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New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Can Bryan Mbeumo be the ‘triple threat' that Manchester United's attack sorely needs?
When Sir Jim Ratcliffe gave a series of interviews from INEOS' headquarters in Knightsbridge a few months ago, one name came up more often than you might expect: Ian Graham. You probably know Graham as Liverpool's former director of research, who, alongside Michael Edwards, championed data science behind the scenes from a pokey box room at Melwood and ultimately played a key part in putting another of English football's behemothic clubs back on their perch. Graham left Liverpool in 2023 and, last year, published his book 'How to Win the Premier League'. Has Ratcliffe read it? Some of those close to the petrochemicals billionaire were not sure when asked by The Athletic, but said they would not be surprised. If Project 150 is to be completed, it should probably find its way to his bedside table sometime before 2028. Advertisement If he has read it, or when he does, Ratcliffe will learn that one of the key elements of Liverpool's data-influenced approach was Graham's 'possession value' model, which calculated if a player's every action in possession contributed to his team's chances of scoring or conceding a goal. Graham's model was partly inspired by Dean Oliver's concept of 'usage' in his book 'Basketball on Paper', which can also be broadly applied to its fellow 'invasion' sport: football. Put simply, this is the idea that a player can only score a goal if they shoot. But shooting often ends a spell of possession, and a team can only score if they have the ball. Sometimes it is more advantageous to play an extra pass or beat an opponent with a dribble. Ideally, your best attacking players should be capable of doing all three of those things, and should know when one or the other will improve their team's chances of scoring. They should be, what Graham calls, a 'triple threat'. 'These players are difficult to defend against,' he writes. 'They can choose to pass or dribble instead of shoot. And they use up fewer possessions than players whose only skill is shooting.' Liverpool's research department believed they had three 'triple threats' in Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. But they also considered each to have particular strengths which complemented the others. Firmino's ability to link play and find the right pass made the most of Salah's expert finishing, for example. For all the complex metrics and machine learning, here was an example of the simple, intuitive logic at the heart of Liverpool's title-winning data science. The best frontlines are balanced frontlines, where the players have complementary strengths and no clear weaknesses. So, how much attention was Ratcliffe paying by page 152, if indeed he has read that far? Advertisement The targeting, pursuit and long-awaited agreement to sign Bryan Mbeumo suggests at least some, because you would be hard-pressed to find another Premier League player who added more value to his team's attacks than the Brentford winger. Outside of Anfield, at least. According to StatsBomb's On-Ball Value (OBV) metric — a possession-value model of the type that was a cornerstone of Graham's work — only Salah added more value to his team's attacks last season than United's new £65million ($87.2m) signing. Those figures are total values rather than per 90 minutes, meaning players such as Salah and Mbeumo benefit somewhat from having consistently played a lot of football last season. Yet these metrics record both positive and negative contributions, punishing errors and mistakes harshly. Players with a lot of minutes have more opportunities to be both rewarded but also to be penalised. Still, Mbeumo ranked highly among his peers. Clearly, United will be hoping for a repeat of his 20 league goals — the fourth-most of any player last season and a career best for Mbeumo — although five came by dint of being Brentford's penalty-taker, a responsibility he is unlikely to assume from Bruno Fernandes. As has been well documented, Mbeumo overperformed his 12.3 expected goals (xG) significantly last term. That will almost certainly not be repeatable season after season at Old Trafford. Yet, last season was actually a down year on the underlying metrics for the 25-year-old, with his 2.08 shots and 0.20 non-penalty xG per 90 minutes being his lowest totals since becoming a Premier League player. Data by StatsBomb; vs Premier League attacking midfielders/wingers Mbeumo made up for that by ranking far better among his peers on value-added metrics, where his execution of shots helped turn low-quality chances into goals, ranking among the 89th percentile of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League. A repeat in United's colours could, in some ways, mitigate fellow new signing Matheus Cunha's tendency to shoot from range, which led to some spectacular goals from Wolverhampton Wanderers last season but, according to Shot OBV, was often detrimental to his team's chances of scoring. Data by StatsBomb; vs Premier League attacking midfielders/wingers Yet both players are more than just goalscorers anyway, and were arguably most influential as providers last term. Both ranked highly among players in their position for Pass OBV, with only three players adding more value to attacks than Mbeumo: Fernandes, Salah and his Brentford team-mate Mikkel Damsgaard. Advertisement For all that Mbeumo overperformed in terms of his goalscoring, the quality of the chances that he created for teammates suggests that he was unfortunate not to have racked up a couple more assists. As we can see from the map below, he was excellent at moving the ball into the box from his wide role, frequently finding players inside the six-yard box from corners, perhaps a product of Brentford's meticulous approach to set pieces. Crucially for United, both players stood out among the rest of the league as front-footed and progressive, whether that was passing or dribbling. It is something that Ruben Amorim's side sorely lacked, with often only Fernandes' playmaking driving the team up the pitch. Again, Mbeumo ranked highly for adding value to Brentford's attacks through his dribbling last season, with Cunha not far behind for Wolves. One player to outperform both was Amad, who may now see more minutes at wing-back this season as a result of United's spending targeting the two No 10 spots. Mbeumo could be more effective when dribbling, though, and more threatening on goal too. As well as he ranks on possession-value metrics, his raw volume in terms of shots, progressive carries and take-ons was below the Premier League average last season. Mbeumo often lingered on the edge of attacking moves and held the width at Brentford — though he could be decisive when he picked up the ball and looked to drive inside. It is not just penalties he could lose, either. A steady diet of set-piece duties has helped lift those eye-catching chance-creation numbers. Cunha held many of the same responsibilities at Molineux, too. But both are well-rounded attacking players who can shift the emphasis of an attack in various ways with the ball at their feet. The type that last season's often staid, predictable United attack badly needed. And particularly in the case of Mbeumo. Whether Ratcliffe has read Graham's book or not, there is a hint of its lessons in the identity of the biggest signing he has sanctioned at Old Trafford to date. United must hope they have found their own 'triple threat'. Additional reporting: Thom Harris (Lee Parker – CameraSport via Getty Images)


Irish Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Barry Lyndon turns 50: Is Kubrick's epic, filmed in Ireland, a folly or a masterpiece?
Some 20 years ago, I was invited round to Sir Ken Adam's house in Knightsbridge for a conversation about a new book on his work as a production designer. I knew I was in the right place when I saw his Rolls-Royce parked outside the grand stucco porch. One of only three German-born airmen to fly for the RAF in the second World War, Adam had long been recognised as a legend of the industry. Over a 50-year career, he worked on every variety of picture – from Addams Family Values to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – but Adam was, by then, resigned to the awareness that, in any interview, the conversation would quickly touch upon James Bond and Stanley Kubrick . He made seven Bond films. The two pictures he made with Kubrick were among the most striking looking ever made: Dr Strangelove and Barry Lyndon. I remember approaching the subject of the latter film with some caution. Half a century after its release, Barry Lyndon, much of which was shot in Ireland, remains shrouded in myth and controversy. Is the lavish 18th-century epic a folly or a masterpiece? Did the IRA really chase Kubrick away? Was the pressure on the crew so great? It was said the stress of dealing with Kubrick's obsessions on that film – shooting by candlelight, replicating 19th-century paintings – accelerated this former fighter pilot towards (as we then still said) a nervous breakdown. Stanley Kubrick on the set of Barry Lyndon. Photograph: Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images Adam, who died in 2016, did not balk when I used those words. 'Oh yes, a terrible breakdown,' he told me. 'We were working these incredibly long hours. And there was the closeness to Stanley, who was so completely disorganised. We didn't have a script as such. He had just [photocopied] pages from [William Makepeace] Thackeray's novel and then discovered that didn't work; I could have told him that at the beginning.' [ One of Stanley Kubrick's greatest films was made free to watch on YouTube. It's a sign of the trouble movie studios are in Opens in new window ] This gets at an often-overlooked aspect of Kubrick's approach. Yes, he was meticulous. But, according to Adam (who would know), that perfectionism was at odds with a lack of structural discipline. 'We were chasing around all day looking for a location and then shooting all night,' Adam told me. 'If a scene didn't work it was, of course, the fault of the location.' Marisa Berenson in Barry Lyndon Adam ended up in the care of 'a famous Scottish psychiatrist' who told him that, to get well, he would have to 'cut the umbilical cord' with Kubrick. When he emerged from care he got a phone call from the director. Kubrick noted how pleased he was that Adam was better and explained that he now wanted the production designer to shoot a second-unit sequence in Potsdam. 'That gave me such a shock that the next day I was back in the clinic!' he told Sir Christopher Frayling. Adam could, reasonably enough, have concluded, on the film's release in 1975, that it was not worth the effort or the strain on his mental health. Barry Lyndon, adaptation of a short novel by Thackeray, received mixed reviews and was not a financial success. [ Reissue of the Week: Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon - terribly beautiful, relentlessly authentic Opens in new window ] Pauline Kael, then in her pomp as film critic of the New Yorker, greatly enjoyed revealing her disappointment. 'Kubrick has taken a quick-witted story, full of vaudeville turns ... and he's controlled it so meticulously that he's drained the blood out of it,' she wrote. 'He suppresses most of the active elements that make movies pleasurable.' Charles Champlin of the Los Angeles Times thought it 'the motion picture equivalent of one of those very large, very heavy, very expensive, very elegant and very dull books that exist solely to be seen on coffee tables'. The great Derek Malcolm, writing in the Guardian, turned to a cricketing analogy. 'It's half a film,' he wrote. 'He is like a batsman trying to score a century without anybody noticing.' Many were unconvinced by Ryan O'Neal's deadened performance in the title role (domestic viewers still wince a little at his so-so Irish accent). Huntington Castle's yew tree walk, made famous when a scene in Barry Lyndon was filmed there. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw It would be wrong to suggest the whole world was against it. There were good reviews from Gene Siskel in the Chicago Tribune and Vincent Canby in the New York Times. The Irish Times, on first glance, also caught its brilliance. In his review, Fergus Linehan railed against negative criticism 'that misunderstood both the film's method and purpose'. Linehan went on to place it alongside the likes of The Godfather Part II and Badlands among his 12 best films (on Irish release dates) of 1975. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominated Barry Lyndon as best picture in what now seems a contender for the finest line-up in the Oscars' history. It competed opposite Dog Day Afternoon, Nashville, Jaws and eventual winner One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Adam won his second Oscar (an award he thought 'ironic' for a film largely set on already existing locations). Yet there was still a sense the film was a grand extravagance that failed to repay the effort demanded of any viewer. Kubrick's films often take a long time to settle in with critics and viewers. 2001: A Space Odyssey divided opinion on release in 1968. It is said Rock Hudson sloped out early grumbling 'What is this bullsh**t?' as Discovery One made its glacial way towards Jupiter. On Sight and Sound's 2022 poll to find the greatest films of all time, 2001 landed in sixth place. [Kubrick] was not a designer, but he knew every technical job: editing, sound, photography. Nobody could say: 'This couldn't be done.' They would have been fired immediately. — Sir Ken Adam Kubrick was famously nominated as worst director in the first ever (admittedly idiotic) Golden Raspberry Awards for The Shining in 1980. It was also trashed by Pauline Kael and Roger Ebert before going on to establish itself as one of the greatest of all horror pictures. As a crisp new 4K restoration of Barry Lyndon arrives in cinemas for the golden jubilee, the early sceptical responses seem as distant and eccentric as the riots at the first night of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. It was the second highest rated Kubrick film on that recent Sight and Sound poll. Five years ago, this newspaper, enjoying itself in the pandemic summer, named it as the best Irish film of all time. The troubled history of its production only adds to the legend. By the time Kubrick, a middle-class Bronx boy who had begun as a still photographer, came to shoot Barry Lyndon, his forbidding reputation was already in place. Dr Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange, his three previous films, had all kicked up different degrees of furore. The controversy around that last film (talk of copycat violence eventually led to the director withdrawing A Clockwork Orange in the UK) heaped sombre mystique on overcooked intimations of heroic genius. The director had originally wanted to follow up A Clockwork Orange with a film on Napoleon, but financing fell through after the failure of Sergei Bondarchuk's bombastic Waterloo. He then considered a take on Thackeray's Vanity Fair, but, deciding that book was too huge, settled instead on the same author's more compact The Luck of Barry Lyndon. O'Neal, huge in the aftermath of Love Story, secured the title role – an Irish rogue who romances a rich widow after conning his way through the Seven Years' War – when Robert Redford turned it down. Supermodel Marisa Berenson was to play the moneyed Lady Lyndon. Ryan O'Neill, photographed in 2015, 40 years after filming Barry Lyndon In 1973 the Warner Bros charabanc arrived to an Ireland which was less accustomed to huge American productions than is now the case. Ardmore Studios accommodated some of the shooting, but it is the location work that really sticks in the brain. Powerscourt House in County Wicklow provided elegant backdrops just a few months before its destruction in a fire. One can also spot Kells Priory in Co Kilkenny, Huntingdon Castle in Co Carlow and Castletown House in Co Kildare. Not everywhere is representing a domestic location. Dublin Castle stands in for the Prussian retreat of Chevalier de Balibari, a grifter (actually Irish) played with majestic oddness by the untouchable Patrick Magee. Reasonably enough, much attention has gone the way of the technical innovations that characterised a complex production. If you know anything about Barry Lyndon you probably know that John Alcott, who won that year's Oscar for best cinematography, was required to shoot some scenes solely by candlelight. This ultimately required the adaptation of superfast 50mm Zeiss lenses that had originally been designed by Nasa for use on the moon. 'I was very good friends with Stanley,' Adam told me. 'He was not a designer, but he knew every technical job: editing, sound, photography. Nobody could say: 'This couldn't be done.' They would have been fired immediately.' Adam argued that Kubrick enjoyed his time in Ireland, but he wasn't sufficiently enamoured to ignore an apparent phone call from the IRA demanding that he leave the country within 24 hours. He was gone in 12. 'Whether the threat was a hoax or it was real, almost doesn't matter,' Jan Harlan, a producer on the film, later told the Irish Independent. 'Stanley was not willing to take the risk. He was threatened, and he packed his bag and went home. And the whole crew went with him.' Fifty years later, the reputation of Barry Lyndon could hardly be more secure. Elevated by music from The Chieftains , subverted by an ironic voiceover from Michael Hordern, the film winds a sinister mordancy around its overwhelmingly beautiful images. There is a sense throughout of impending loss. None of this can last. I can't say if Adam felt it was all worthwhile. It was then 30 years after the fact, but the mental stress clearly still rankled. 'I took all Stanley's problems on my shoulders,' he said. 'And ended up apologising for things that were nothing to do with me.' The 4K restoration of Barry Lyndon is on limited release from July 18th


Entrepreneur
2 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Binghatti Opens its London Boutique Marking Larger International Presence
Binghatti's entry into the UK market represents a strategic move to facilitate international investment into the UAE's thriving real estate sector. You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Binghatti, a UAE-based property developer, has officially launched its first International sales boutique in the United Kingdom. The landmark opening took place on July 16, 2025, in Knightsbridge on Brompton Road, part of the South Kensington Estate. The ceremony featured a symbolic ribbon-cutting led by Binghatti's founder Dr. Hussain Binghatti Aljbori, and Chairman Muhammad Binghatti celebrating a pivotal step in the brand's global expansion journey. With a development portfolio exceeding AED50 billion, over 80 projects, and more than 11,000 residential units delivered across Dubai, Binghatti's entry into the UK market represents a strategic move to facilitate international investment into the UAE's thriving real estate sector. The London Boutique will serve as a centralized hub for global investors, offering direct access to Binghatti's premium Dubai developments and personalized investment advisory services. Binghatti's name is synonymous with architectural distinction and global partnerships. The developer has launched several acclaimed branded residences in collaboration with iconic names such as Bugatti, Mercedes-Benz, and Jacob&Co. Among Binghatti's record-breaking branded residences are the Bugatti Residences by Binghatti, Mercedes-Benz Places by Binghatti, and the Burj Binghatti Jacob&Co. Residences, set to become the world's tallest branded residential tower. These developments have garnered worldwide recognition and attracted high-profile clientele, including global footballer Neymar Jr., opera legend Andrea Bocelli, footballer Aymeric Laporte, and most recently, Hollywood actor Terry Crews, who acquired a residence at Binghatti Aquarise in early 2025. The Binghatti London Boutique, will not only highlight Binghatti's latest real estate offerings but will also serve as a dedicated investment platform for international buyers. A team of real estate experts and sales professionals will be on-site to provide end-to-end client services, including property showcases, investment consultations, and sales transactions. Chairman Muhammad Binghatti commented, "Our presence in London marks a strategic evolution in our vision to make world-class real estate accessible to international investors. At Binghatti, we are committed to delivering architectural excellence and investment value to a global clientele, allowing them to connect directly with Dubai's most prestigious opportunities right from their own cities."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Virturo's Senior Investment Specialist Alex Melnyk Integrates AI Tools to Navigate Crypto Market Risk
London, United Kingdom, July 17th, 2025, FinanceWireAlex Melnyk, 42, is a seasoned Senior Investment Specialist at Virturo, based in London's Knightsbridge. With a global finance background and advanced credentials (Chartered Financial Analyst, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst, and Financial Risk Manager), Alex brings over 15 years of market experience to high-net-worth clients. Alex grew up in Luhansk (Eastern Ukraine) and earned his degree at the Financial University under the Russian Government (2003–2008). In 2009, Alex moved to the US, where he traded for major banks until 2017, then managed his own portfolio through 2020. In 2021, Alex joined Virturo, blending his institutional trading expertise with cutting-edge fintech. He lives in London with his wife Allison and their two young sons, embodying the balance of family values and professional insight. Credentials: CFA, CAIA, FRM certifications demonstrate Alex's rigorous financial knowledge and risk-management expertise. Career Highlights: Over a decade on Wall Street trading desks, followed by entrepreneurial crypto trading before joining Virturo in 2021. Client Focus: Known for clear communication, Alex guides sophisticated investors through digital markets with personalized strategies. Expertise and Virturo's Approach At Virturo, Alex leverages AI-driven tools alongside his own market insights. Alex explains that Virturo's platform combines 'advanced AI-driven analysis and human supervision' to identify trading opportunities and build robust strategies Under his leadership, the firm has expanded real-time data and risk-management capabilities. Alex points out that these AI tools 'provide personalized trading strategies to ensure crypto investments align with long-term financial goals". In practice, this means customized stop-loss/take-profit settings and predictive analytics to protect client portfolios in volatile crypto markets. Alex's professional judgement, backed by quantitative models, helps clients capitalize on crypto's growth while managing downside risk. According to Alex, today's macro trends make crypto an essential part of diversified portfolios. Alex notes that as the 'digital economy expands, assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum are becoming crucial in long-term portfolio strategies". In other words, digital currencies now serve as both diversification and an inflation hedge – often called 'digital gold' – for savvy investors. Current market data support his view: Bitcoin recently surged to a fresh record above $118,000, its all-time high. Analysts forecast even higher levels soon, citing strong institutional inflows and regulatory tailwinds. A 2025 survey found that 89% of high-net-worth crypto investors plan to increase their digital-asset exposure this year, reflecting widespread confidence in this asset class. These developments, Alex says, validate his focus on disciplined crypto exposure for wealth growth. Investment Philosophy and Vision Alex's investment philosophy centers on patience, education and alignment with client goals. He often reminds clients to 'trust the process' – meaning to follow a well-researched strategy even during market swings. 'Trusting the investment process is essential,' Melnyk says. 'By remaining patient and disciplined, investors give their strategies time to succeed.' This perspective comes from years of navigating bull and bear markets. He encourages clients to stay focused on fundamentals (like network security and adoption trends) rather than short-term noise. Another core belief is making capital work proactively. 'Our goal is to make your money work for you,' he adds. 'We align every decision with your financial goals to build lasting wealth.' In practice, Alex customizes each portfolio strategy to reflect individual risk tolerance and horizons. He believes education is key: clients who understand how crypto markets function will invest with confidence. That aligns with broader trends – investors today want advisors who are both risk managers and educators. Alex positions himself as a strategic partner who builds trust through knowledge and transparent communication, exactly what many affluent clients demand. By combining world-class credentials with a client-first approach, Alex Melnyk has earned the admiration and trust of Virturo's clients. His balanced view – optimistic about crypto's upside yet rigorous about risk control – inspires confidence. As one client notes, Alex makes complex markets accessible and 'offers a clear roadmap even in volatile times.' For high-net-worth investors seeking to grow their wealth through digital assets, Alex's guidance at Virturo represents both expertise and reassurance. Under his stewardship, clients feel empowered to seize crypto's potential, knowing their strategies are grounded in experience and supported by cutting-edge technology. About Virturo Virturo, a leading broker in CFD trading and financial technology, is redefining investment strategies with its AI-driven automated trading and advanced risk management solutions. Official Website: LinkedIn: YouTube channel: Facebook: Media TeamVirturo Media TeamVirturosupport@ | © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


Arabian Business
3 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
Dubai real estate developer Binghatti opens London office
UAE property developer Binghatti has launched its first international sales boutique in the United Kingdom, opening the doors to its new London location on July 16, 2025. The boutique is located on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, part of the South Kensington Estate. Binghatti's Founder, Dr. Hussain Binghatti Aljbori and Chairman Muhammad Binghatti conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening. Dubai developer launches UK branch The Dubai-based developer operates a portfolio worth more than AED 50 billion, spanning over 80 projects and delivering more than 11,000 residential units across Dubai. The London boutique represents the company's move to attract international investment into the UAE's property sector. The new sales hub will serve as a centre for international investors, providing access to Binghatti's Dubai developments and investment advisory services. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Binghatti بن غاطي (@binghatti) The boutique will house a team of property experts and sales professionals offering property showcases, investment consultations, and sales transactions. Binghatti has developed branded residences in partnership with companies including Bugatti, Mercedes-Benz, and Jacob&Co. The developer's projects include the Bugatti Residences by Binghatti, Mercedes-Benz Places by Binghatti, and the Burj Binghatti Jacob&Co. Residences, which is set to become the world's tallest branded residential tower. The company's developments have attracted buyers including footballer Neymar Jr., opera singer Andrea Bocelli, footballer Aymeric Laporte, and Hollywood actor Terry Crews, who purchased a residence at Binghatti Aquarise in early 2025. Chairman Muhammad Binghatti said: 'Our presence in London marks a strategic evolution in our vision to make world-class real estate accessible to international investors. At Binghatti, we are committed to delivering architectural excellence and investment value to a global clientele, allowing them to connect directly with Dubai's most prestigious opportunities right from their own cities.' The opening event served as a networking platform for investors, property professionals, and institutional partners.